[ShadowWolf_IH]

Not sure how many Vets there are here, but Happy Veterans Day, and thanks for serving.

[Klaustrophobia]

today made me give some serious thought to rejecting the shipyard offer and signing on to the navy.  i really wish i had more time.

[Dilmah G]

Not sure how many Vets there are here, but Happy Veterans Day, and thanks for serving.

What he said.

[BrotherBryon]

Not sure how many Vets there are here, but Happy Veterans Day, and thanks for serving.

There are a few of us around here, though some are more deserving of your thanks than others. Combat Vets I'm talking about you, you guys have seen more hell in just a few minutes than most of us will see in our entire life times, Thanks.

[General Battuta]

Not sure how many Vets there are here, but Happy Veterans Day, and thanks for serving.

There are a few of us around here, though some are more deserving of your thanks than others. Combat Vets I'm talking about you, you guys have seen more hell in just a few minutes than most of us will see in our entire life times, Thanks.

Casting aspersions on noncombat personnel is a very, very bad idea. As some HLP members have seen recently, being off the front lines doesn't spare you from some terrible things.

[Klaustrophobia]

i believe that was more an EXTRA recognition of combatants, not a slight to non-combatants.

[General Battuta]

The man who started this thread is classier than that and would probably not want that kind of line drawn. In fact I know he wouldn't, because I was talking to him on IRC before this thread was posted.

[NGTM-1R]

i believe that was more an EXTRA recognition of combatants, not a slight to non-combatants.

Anyone who has been to Iraq or Afghanistan will tell you that the REMF distinction is fuzzy at best.

[Dilmah G]

Yeah, but it was what BrotherByron was seen to be getting at, rather than what Klaustrophobia's actual opinions were. I digress.

Regardless of your service, or whatever your spec is, you have my respect; today and all days.

[Scotty]

A great big thanks to all you vets out there.

[ShadowWolf_IH]

I know a guy whose thigh was mangled by shrapnel in Iraq, and he reached into his own leg to keep the femoral artery closed until medics arrived.  I know another guy who was in the Federal Building in Oklahoma City when it was destroyed.  One in  combat theatre while America was in a wartime posture, another in a safe cushy job during peacetime.  I daresay that both instances were cause for alarm at the prospect of continued life for these gentlemen.  While i understand the sentiment of combatants vs noncombatants, i have to disagree.  At any time, a member of our armed services may be called into a hotspot, they know this when they sign up. 

[Titan]

Dammit, a day late. Anyways, thanks.

[Mobius]

So that's what you guys mean by "V-Day". I know an alternate meaning which is completely different...

[BrotherBryon]

If any thing I was down playing my own contribution having never seen combat despite being in a combat unit, Klaustrophobia had it right. I didn't mean any slight to any noncombat specialist either, it was an extra shout out to any one who has experienced combat regardless of what job they may have had. In today's environment any position can be put it harms way without any notice. Sorry Battuta if I wasn't clear enough in my intent.

[General Battuta]

It's okay. I'm just touchy because of what some of our members have gone through recently.

[ShadowWolf_IH]

Now can we all be the tough guys that we are and have a group hug.

And Byron, you are a vet, even if you didn't see combat.  You volunteered to serve, don't down play it.  Thank you.  I have just as much respect for someone in Admin as I do for Spec-for, Seals, Recon, or AF Commando.  Combat or not isn't the issue, knowing that you could be the next casualty regardless of rating is.  For what its worth, you may not have seen combat with your unit, but i guarantee of one simple fact, you helped.  They could have been training next to someone who didn't care, that could have been tragic for your unit.  I was riffed, and my brother was riffed two weeks before his unit deployed to Desert Shield.  He was angry, he felt that his place was with his unit when they went into a combat theatre.  To be honest, I'm damned proud of him for that attitude, but the selfish part of me is glad that he was home and out of harms way.

[Nuclear1]

Big group hug!

[Grizzly]

Not sure how many Vets there are here, but Happy Veterans Day, and thanks for serving.

There are a few of us around here, though some are more deserving of your thanks than others. Combat Vets I'm talking about you, you guys have seen more hell in just a few minutes than most of us will see in our entire life times, Thanks.

Casting aspersions on noncombat personnel is a very, very bad idea. As some HLP members have seen recently, being off the front lines doesn't spare you from some terrible things.

I am under the queit impression that in today's wars, there simply is no frontline. You can be shot at, or have IED's explode in your face, everywhere.

Here's some respect from a... civvie.

[BrotherBryon]

Now can we all be the tough guys that we are and have a group hug.

And Byron, you are a vet, even if you didn't see combat.  You volunteered to serve, don't down play it.  Thank you.  I have just as much respect for someone in Admin as I do for Spec-for, Seals, Recon, or AF Commando.  Combat or not isn't the issue, knowing that you could be the next casualty regardless of rating is.  For what its worth, you may not have seen combat with your unit, but i guarantee of one simple fact, you helped.  They could have been training next to someone who didn't care, that could have been tragic for your unit.  I was riffed, and my brother was riffed two weeks before his unit deployed to Desert Shield.  He was angry, he felt that his place was with his unit when they went into a combat theatre.  To be honest, I'm damned proud of him for that attitude, but the selfish part of me is glad that he was home and out of harms way.

I felt the same way, 911 happened just 8 months after I left active duty. Stayed in the guard for 2 years after that but was never recalled. I was sorely tempted to drop out of college and rejoin my old unit. The thought of any of them going into hell with out me was just overwhelming, in the end though I did what my army buddies wanted me to do finish college and move on to a better line of work.

[ShadowWolf_IH]

Sorry it took so long to respond, but i've been giving serious thought to this thread.  Here's my question, would rather have been with them, or rather they never saw the combat theatre?

The thing we want for our brothers in arms, is for them to not be our brothers in arms.  Whether you like a guy or not, once you have trained to put your life in his hands, and asked him to trust you enough to put his in yours, you end up with a familiar kinship that is about as close to family as it gets.  They wanted you out of that line of work as much as you want them out.